Spaced repetition is an evidence-based learning technique usually performed with flashcards, in which newly introduced or more difficult flashcards are shown more frequently and older or easier ones less frequently, exploiting the psychological spacing effect; its use has been shown to increase the rate of learning. It is applied especially in contexts where a learner must acquire many items and retain them indefinitely, such as vocabulary acquisition during second-language learning, and can be performed either with spaced repetition software or with physical flashcards using the Leitner system; combined with the testing effect, spaced repetition can further improve long-term memory and ease memorization.
Facts
Core ClaimReviewing information at increasing, spaced intervals produces stronger long-term retention than repeating it in one massed session, exploiting the psychological spacing effect. 1 Origin YearMarks Sebastian Leitner's 1973 Leitner system; the underlying spacing effect was identified earlier, in the 1880s, by Hermann Ebbinghaus. Sources
1. Wikipedia: Spaced repetition
Wikimedia Foundationlead paragraph
Spaced repetition is an evidence-based learning technique that is usually performed with flashcards. Newly introduced and more difficult flashcards are shown more frequently, while older and less difficult flashcards are shown less frequently in order to exploit the psychological spacing effect.
Research and application section
in 1973 Sebastian Leitner devised his "Leitner system", an all-purpose spaced repetition learning system based on flashcards.
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